President Trump and his administration have focused efforts to address what they perceive as reverse racism and sexism, targeting perceived discrimination against white men. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump stated there is a strong anti-white sentiment in the United States and vowed to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies that he claimed unfairly favored minorities and women over white men.
Trump’s administration took significant steps in fulfilling this promise. Federal agencies redirected civil rights laws, originally designed to combat discrimination against Black people and women, to benefit white men. There was also a notable decline in enforcing laws meant to safeguard women and minorities from various forms of discrimination.
A key example of these changes occurred on July 21 when the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) decided to stop requiring employers to disclose the demographics of their workforce. This data collection had been in place since 1966 and was used to address workplace discrimination, with over 73,000 employers reporting for 2023, covering more than 50 million employees. The report showed white men holding a disproportionate number of high-level jobs. However, rather than encouraging increased reporting of discrimination by minorities, Commission Chair Andrea Lucas, a Trump appointee, sought complaints from white men experiencing alleged discrimination.
This decision to halt demographic data collection will not eradicate discrimination against people of color and women but may obscure its presence. This approach aligns with two Republican commission members, contrasting with the Democratic member who opposed the measure.
This policy strategy is reminiscent of Trump’s stance during the COVID pandemic, where he suggested fewer tests would show fewer cases. In his second term, Trump issued executive orders to declare DEI programs illegal and immoral, resulting in many private companies reducing their DEI initiatives.
The administration’s claim that its actions aim to ensure merit-based job and college admissions rests on the stereotype that white men possess more merit than others, a belief lacking basis. Trump seemed unable to acknowledge the qualifications of people of color and women as comparable to white men’s across various positions.
During his campaign, Trump attempted to win over Black voters by claiming unauthorized immigrants were taking jobs from Black individuals, implying that Black people are limited to low-paying, manual labor roles. This narrative undermines the capabilities of Black individuals and women, who remain underrepresented in high-level positions despite misconceptions about racial and gender advantages. For instance, in 2024, Black households earned an average of nearly $84,000, while white households earned about $124,500.
As a Black woman who has faced racism and sexism throughout my life, including my early childhood in segregated Louisiana, I recognize America today is more just than in the past. However, addressing racism and sexism requires acknowledging they do not primarily victimized white men.
Donna Brazile is a political strategist, ABC News contributor, and former chair of the Democratic National Committee. She authored “Hacks: Inside the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House.”
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